Athens as Greece’s modern capital

Plaka in the new born Greek state
Since Greece change its capital from Nafplio to Athens, Plaka became what is now Syntagma for Athens. What made that reality is the combination of the Greek rebels that inspired people from all over the world, but also the Greek capital that was created inside (to islands) and outside of Greece, from Greek bankers, ship owners and merchants. Wealthy Greeks from all over Europe and Asia that had supported the Greek War, started to think of establishing back to their homeland. This is how neoclassical buildings were made in Athens.

Consequently, the urban class of the new state started to build brand new buildings in devasteted from war Athens. But since Plaka had many antiquities, the area was protected from Athens urban planning. From 1930 the ancient Agora started to be preserved from the state.

After Athens became free city, people inherited all the monuments that remained after centuries: Parthenon, Hefesteion, Eretheion, Lysikrates monument, Wind of Towers, Roman Agora, Fetihie and Tzistirakis Mosque, even walls or parts of them exist until today.

Fetiye Mosque

Tower of Winds

Lysicratous monument

At this initial plan, it was first time discussed the excavation of Athens as a major priority of the modern Greek state. So the architects mapped the ruins, a total 115 temples, the Haseki Wall that was surrounding the city, the medieval and Ottoman monuments, a legacy of East and West to the city of Athena.
Cleanthis and Schaubert planned a free space for excavations in Athens in order to show the past of the city. Both of them were students of K.F. von Shinkel (1781-1841), maybe the most important neoclassical architect in Germany. Consequently they followed his teachers’ line and moving it forward in the city of Athens’ plan.

In December 1833 Athens’ plan was already a law, after Athenians assuring that they would exchange their houses for that purpose. Nevertheless, they reacted to the initial plan and the government was unable to impose the plan. So a new architect was hired, Leo von Klenze, in order to make another plan. This second 1834 plan did not make an different than making streets narrower and squares smaller.

Athens agora map

A factory map of the past

Fauvel map of Athens

Consequently, this plan was not approved as well by the public, because Athens was the first capital so new buildings and construction phase had already started before any plan could be imposed. So only the monuments that were obviously seen were actually saved. The streets that were in the center of it were Athinas, Ermou and Aiolou. There were no big changes than squares and archaeological marks. Buildings of that period where the house of historian Finley, Rizaris home, Lasanis and Hatzikiriakoy.

Entrance of National History Museum

Modern Greek Parliament

Megaro Stathatou from Ziller, now Museum at Vas. Sofias

About Plaka

Plaka is the old town of Athens, famous about Anafiotika and taverns, located between the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Starting from Lysicratous and Hadrian’s Arch up to Monastiraki, Plaka incorporates instagram friendly streets, neoclassical architecture and amazing history of centuries. It is also famous as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to Acropolis hill, and many more archaeological sites.